Device for gumming tape



R. l. MEADER DEVICE FOR GUMMING TAPE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 7, 1934 m we? I UN D STATES PATENT OFFICER Ralph I. Meader, Lynbrook, N. Y.

Application December 12, 1929, Serial No. 413,540

'7 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to devices for applying gum or adhesive to a tape or strip of paper or the like. Such gumining devices are used,forexample, for attaching a paper tape or ribbon carrying a message printed thereon by a telegraphic printer, toa suitable supporting sheet such as a message blank.

In my application Serial No. 287,288, filed June 21, 1928, for apparatus for moistening and cutting gummed paper, etc., I have set forth a handoperated implement for use in attaching'to such a sheet or blank a printed tape which'has been previously gummed and requires merely moisten ing in orderto effect its attachment to the sheet. Accordingto' my present invention an implement of similar general construction is employed for applying adhesive to the strip or tape. For'this purpose the hollow handle or reservoir is charged with gum or other liquid adhesive instead of with water, and this gum is carried through a suitable conduit to a slot or aperture over which the tape to be gummed is carried. The invention provides means whereby the tape is suitably guided in its passage across the aperture, and whereby it may be readily inserted. It also provides means for closing theaperture when the strip is not in place, and for opening it when the feed of gum to the strip is required.

In common with the device set forth in my said application, the structure of my present invention provides for the carrying of the strip across the nozzle portion of the implement in transverse direction, as distinguished from those devices for a similar purpose wherein the tape has been carried throughv or along the handle or body of the device longitudinally. Such longitudinal arrangement involves an awkward handling of the instrument and conceals a considerable length of the tape; whereas with the transversely-passing tape the operation is facile and convenient, and only an inch or two of the tape is at any moment within the guiding means of the device, and scarcely any of it is concealed.

The accompanying drawing shows the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 a plan partly in horizontal section;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary side elevation;

Fig. 4 a transverse section on the line 4-4 in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 an end View of the nozzle, and

Fig. 6 a fragmentary sectional perspective cut through the nozzle, showing the aperture ,and its closing means.

As heretofore, the handle A is tubular and its (Cl. Ell-44.5)

interior constitutes a reservoir for the liquid, which in this case is gum or like liquid'adhesive. To one end of this handle-is attached an extension, which for convenience I will designate a nozzle B. This may conveniently be attached by forming it with a base portion B which is screwed into the end of the tubular handle A, asshown; Through the nozzle is a conduit or passage 0 by which the liquid may flow to the endthe'rof; the passage being of any suitable area in crosssection; The end of the nozzle has a slot or aperture D through which the gum may pass upward. Theupper side of the nozzle is formed with parallel transverse guides a, b, forming between them a channel 0 for the passage of the tape a: which is thus carried transversely over the top of the nozzle. Thetape is held down against the top of the nozzle in this channel by a presserfoot or guide E, shown best in Fig. 4. This has fingers d, e, j, which bear down upon the tape. For introducing the tape the guide 'E maybe lifted as shown in Fig. 3, and for this purpose is conveniently attached to an arm or lever F pivoted at g and having athumb-piece F and pulled down by a spring 3 so that by pressing down on this thumb-piece, which constitutes the shorter arm of thelever, its front end carrying the guide E may be lifted. This is done for the purpose of introducing the tape. The tape passes first over a supporting ledge h carrying a plate or shear blade 11 with which co-operates a shear blade 1' by which the tape may be out. For operating the shear a lever G is provided, pivoted at k, having on one arm a thumb-piece m, and its other arm having any suitable articulation engaging the shear blade 7, which is pivoted at Z. The engagement shown consists of a pin n on the lever G entering a slot p in one arm of the shear blade, which constitutes a lever; so that by pressing down the thumb-piece m the blade 7' is moved down to cut off the tape, its return movement being effected by a spring as heretofore, this spring being shown as a coiled spring 112.

A slide H is arranged in the channel 0 to move over the slot or aperture D and close the same, as shown in Fig. 6, when the device is not in use. This slide is provided with a roller q having pivot pins 1* carried in cars upturned from the slide; these pins pass out through slots 15 in the flanges a, b, and their outer ends are engaged by springs u, u, the stress of which tends to move the slide H to its closed position shown in Fig. 6. The finger or presser-foot 6, when in place as shown in Fig. 4, acts to press down the tape adjacent the roller q in such manner that in the act of applying the tape the pull on it in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 causes the tape to pull the roller q to the left in that figure, and thereby retract the slide and open the aperture D, so that the gum may emerge into contact with the under surface of the tape. When, however, the guide E is lifted, its finger e passes above the tape and the springs u pull the slide H over to close the aperture, as shown in Fig. 6. Or, upon the tape being pulled entirely through while the guide E is down, the springs will act in like manner to restore the slide H and cut off the aperture.

In operation, the tape coming from the tape printer is carried by the operator through the channel 0, while the holder E is lifted; then the holder is dropped and the operator pulls the advancing end of the tape so that the latter causes the slide H to move off from the aperture D, and the gum is thereupon fed to the tape as it is pulled through. When a line is completed the operator may preferably tear the tape shortly beyond the finger 1, but leaving sufficient length to take hold of for starting the next line. When the message is completed the operator will shear off the tape just beyond the end of the message, and when the last of the tape is pulled through, the springs u will restore the slide H to its closed position, If at any time the operator lifts the holder E, the springs will close the slide H whether the tape be in position or not.

The construction shown and described is the preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for applying liquid to a tape, comprising a hollow body-portion forming a liquid reservoir and handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit, and having a discharge aperture on top, means for directing the tape transversely across said discharge aperture, means for holding the tape down over said aperture when in use, and means coacting therewith for closing said aperture to prevent escape of liquid when not in use.

2. A device for applying liquid to a tape, comprising a hollow body-portion forming a liquid reservoir and handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit, and having a discharge aperture on top, means for directing the tape transversely across said discharge aperture and for holding the tape down over said aperture when in use, with a spring-pressed lever carrying said holding means, whereby the latter may be lifted to introduce a tape, and means for closing said aperture to prevent escape of liquid when not in use.

3. A device for applying liquid to a tape, comprising a hollow body-portion forming a liquid reservoir and handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit, and having a discharge aperture on top, the nozzle formed on its top with means for directing the tape transversely across said discharge aperture, means for holding the tape down over said aperture when in use, and means for closing said aperture to prevent escape of liquid when not in use, said means movable by contact with the tape to uncover said aperture when the tape is moved across the nozzle.

4. A device according to claim 1, the means for closing the aperture being a slide movable across the aperture.

5. A device according to claim 1, the means for closing the aperture being a slide movable over the aperture to close it, with a spring engaging the slide to give it a normal tendency to close the aperture, and means for retracting the slide to open the aperture when the device is in use.

6. A device according to claim 1, the means for closing the aperture having a roller located in the path of the tape adapted to be engaged by the tape as the latter is fed, to be displaced thereby to retract said means and open the aperture.

7. A device according to claim 1, the nieans for closing the aperture being a slide having spring means for moving it over the aperture, having a roller over which the tape is carried, and said holding means having a finger cooperating with said roller for retracting the slide when the tape is pulled.

RALPH I. MEADER. 

